Detective: Revenge for lewd act was man's motive for 1993 murder

ALLEGAN -- Revenge over an alleged lewd act committed by Randol Sjoerdsma was one reason that Sjoerdsma was beaten in 1993 and thrown in the Thornapple River, a detective testified today.

Daniel Dosenberry

The other motive for the 15-year-old slaying in northeastern Allegan County was to steal the cash in Sjoerdsma's wallet, Michigan State Police Detective Scott Ernstes said today during a probable cause hearing for Daniel Dosenberry.

Dosenberry, 34, is one of two men recently charged in the killing. Dosenberry was arrested in September while Ryan Thibodeaux, 36, of Grand Rapids, was arrested last week.

Allegan County District Court Judge Joseph Skocelas today ordered Dosenberry to stand trial for open murder after hearing Ernstes describe how he and Thibodeaux had talked about doing harm to Sjoerdsma, 28.

"They were going to pick up Randy. They were going to go beat his ass and leave him," Ernstes testified, recounting a police interview with Dosenberry in September.